Reply #18: Thanks, guys, for your input. A few more positive thoughts.

[beachmom]

First, I opened yesterday's paper and there were a slew of letters condemning the NSA wiretaps and somebody even put the famous Ben Franklin quote in. Secondly, I realize I am sounding like a salesman in despair because nobody will buy my product even though I haven't even bothered to try to sell it to them!! Like BlueIris said in another thread, I need to work on my conversation skills, and first work on validating THEIR feelings before segwaying into how more people living in poverty DOES affect them (a la Barak Obama). How I understand that they are fearful of terrorists and want to keep their kids safe, but signing away our civil liberties and allowing the president to bypass the Constitution means the terrorists have already won by weakening our democracy. How the health care crisis is now hurting CORPORATIONS and costing jobs, not just affecting the uninsured.

And lastly, my New Year's Resolution for '06 is to make contact with local Democrats (I guess there has to be a couple), and help out, even if only in a small way, with the congressional election. Action will no doubt ease my melancholy; after all, this is how JK has truly flourished in '05, when he could have just gone through the motions in the Senate and sat around and felt sorry for himself. Instead he threw himself into good works and concentrated on helping others while not dwelling on the self. His year ended with him finding out that a lot of us have been listening, become inspired by him, and "blogged" for him for no pay or recognition just 'cuz. His life is proof how when it seems like you are living in the darkest hour, you should always concentrate on the coming dawn -- because it will and it must come.